Expand All Collapse All Extent 224 folders, approximately 16,340 pages Summary This collection consists of records related to Iridium LLC, a commercial satellite communications system. The records responsive to this request contain email, correspondence, memoranda, handwritten meeting notes, information packets, drafts, and reports. Records include topics related to Iridium's launch, Y2K compliance, bankruptcy, and de-orbit of the Iridium satellite constellation. Other related topics include but are not limited to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites, Motorola, Lockhead Martin, Sprint, Alexander Graham Bell, Gilbert Grosvenor, Vice President Al Gore, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Scope and Content Note The materials in 2010-0706-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. This FOIA consists of records related to Iridium LLC, a commercial satellite communications system. Iridium Communications operates 66 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites enabling subscribers to communicate using handheld telephones anywhere in the world. Iridium began as Iridium SSC. It was a global consortium of shareholders that included Motorola, Lockheed Martin, Sprint, and other international interests. Motorola designed, built and operated the satellites, and was Iridium’s biggest investor. Iridium was named after the 77th element on the periodic table because the company had originally designed a system that used 77 satellites in LEO. Vice President Al Gore participated in the official launch of the company in November of 1998 by using an Iridium satellite phone to call Alexander Graham Bell’s great-grandson Gilbert Grosvenor. Iridium SSC declared bankruptcy in August 1999 only months after its official launch. As operator of the satellite constellation for Iridium, Motorola proposed that they would discontinue satellite communications service by de-orbiting all of the satellites unless a suitable offer was made to purchase the company. The Department of Defense had an interest in the continued operation of that satellite communications system because it was the only Low Earth Orbit (LOE) system to have complete global coverage, making the system useful for contingency communications. A business group headed by Dan Colussy purchased the company in December of 2000 for twenty-five million dollars and formed Iridium Satellite LLC. In September 2009 Iridium Satellite LLC merged with other interests to form Iridium Communications Inc. The records responsive to this request contain email, correspondence, memoranda, handwritten meeting notes, information packets, drafts, and reports. Specifically, the email is best described as correspondence and memorandum. Records related to Iridium include office correspondence concerning the launch of the company, the Vice President’s call to Gilbert Grosvenor, and Iridium’s Y2K compliance. Further, a majority of the responsive records are related to Iridium’s bankruptcy, Motorola’s search for interested parties to purchase the company and preparations for de-orbit of the satellites. A majority of the email, correspondence, and memoranda is from or to Dorothy Robyn. Robyn served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and a senior staff member of the White House National Economic Council. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records responsive to this FOIA request were found in these collection areas—Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files, Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files, Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email], and Clinton Presidential Records: Tape Restoration Project [Email] and Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) contains a variety of series created to organize and track documents and correspondence. The WHORM Subject file was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and is a series of categories designated by a letter/number combination. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. WHORM files are processed at the document level; whereas, Staff and Office files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. The Automated Records Management System (ARMS) is a database that contains email records of the Executive Office of the President. This system maintained unclassified Presidential email. The ARMS dataset is comprised of 6 sub-series of email records called “Buckets.” The buckets include NPR, OPD, POTUS, WHO, CEA, and Default. ARMS emails are printed and arranged chronologically by creation date. The Tape Restoration Project (TRP) is a database consisting of restored emails from the Automated Records Management System from July 1994 through June of 2000. The TRP is a database that contains email records of the Executive Office of the President. This system maintained unclassified Presidential record email. The TRP dataset is comprised of 6 sub-series of email records called “Buckets.” The buckets include NPR, OPD, POTUS, WHO, CEA, and Default. TRP emails are printed and arranged chronologically by creation date. FOIA 2010-0706-F includes WHORM records from these subject codes: FI004 Budget-Appropriations. Access Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions. Copyright Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (Chapter 17 U.S.C.) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Provenance Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA). Processed by Staff Archivist, 2012-2013. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2014-06-25 Container List The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2010-0706-F: Box 1 Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File Category Case Number FI004 413768 Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files Counsel’s Office Bushmiller, Ann Satellites – Iridium [OA/ID 24295] Satellites – [loose material] [1] [OA/ID 24295] Satellites – [loose material] [2] [OA/ID 24295] Satellites – [loose material] [3] [OA/ID 24295] Satellites – Satellite [1] [OA/ID 24295] Satellites – Satellite [2] [OA/ID 24295] Iridium – Satellite [1] [OA/ID 24299] Iridium – Satellite [2] [OA/ID 24299] Box 2 Iridium – Satellite [3] [OA/ID 24299] Iridium – Satellite [4] [OA/ID 24299] Iridium – Satellite [5] [OA/ID 24299] Iridium – Satellite [6] [OA/ID 24299] Imbroscio, Michael Individual Waiver Documents (Unclassified): Iridium/Intelsat [OA/ID 13618] Oetken, Paul Iridium De-orbiting [OA/ID 40308] Weiner, Robert Iridium [OA/ID 12818] National Economic Council Kissenger, William Iridium/Motorola [OA/ID 24549] Robyn, Dorothy [Iridium] [Folder 1] [1] [OA/ID 21490] Box 3 [Iridium] [Folder 1] [2] [OA/ID 21490] [Iridium] [Folder 1] [3] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium – Africa [Folder 1] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium: Gerald Helman 12/9/97 12:00 pm Mess [Message] [Folder 1] [1] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium: Gerald Helman 12/9/97 12:00 pm Mess [Message] [Folder 1] [2] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium: Iridium [Folder 2] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium: Stuart Baker [Folder 2] [1] [OA/ID 21490] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued) Iridium: Stuart Baker [Folder 2] [2] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium Demo [Folder 3] [1] [OA/ID 21490] Box 4 Iridium Demo [Folder 3] [2] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium Demo [Folder 3] [3] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium Demo [Folder 3] [4] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium Demo: Bell/Grosvenor [Folder 3] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium Demo: Iridium [Folder 3] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium Demo: Iridium/ITU [International Telecommunication Union] Speech [Folder 3] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense [Folder 4] [1] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense [Folder 4] [2] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense [Folder 4] [3] [OA/ID 21490] Box 5 Iridium/Department of Defense [Folder 4] [4] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense [Folder 4] [5] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense [Folder 4] [6] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense: Iridium Call Numbers [Folder 4] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense: [Motorola] [Folder 4] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium/Department of Defense: [Questions on Iridium] [Folder 4] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium [Folder 5] [1] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium [Folder 5] [2] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium: [Interagency Working Group on Iridium] [Folder 5] [OA/ID 21490] Iridium: [Meeting Notes and Memos Concerning Iridium Negotiations] [Folder 5] [OA/ID 21490] Sperling, Gene Iridium 12/5/00 [OA/ID 20705] Box 6 National Security Council Defense Policy Binnendijk, Hans Iridium 2000 [1] [OA/ID 3356] Iridium 2000 [2] [OA/ID 3356] Iridium 2000: Iridium Issue Meetings [OA/ID 3356] Pimentel, Betsy / Bolton, Edward Iridium [1] [OA/ID 3517] Iridium [2] [OA/ID 3517] Iridium [3] [OA/ID 3517] Iridium Black Binder [OA/ID 2897] Iridium Deorbit (Debris) [1] [OA/ID 2821] Iridium Deorbit (Debris) [2] [OA/ID 2821] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued) Iridium Deorbit (Debris) [3] [OA/ID 2821] Iridium Deorbit (Debris) [4] [OA/ID 2821] Iridium Deorbit (Debris) [5] [OA/ID 2821] Iridium Deorbit (Debris) [6] [OA/ID 2821] Iridium Deorbit (Debris): Iridium [OA/ID 2821] Box 7 Iridium White Binder [1] [OA/ID 2897] Iridium White Binder [2] [OA/ID 2897] Iridium White Binder [3] [OA/ID 2897] Office of the National Security Advisor Rudman, Mara Iridium [OA/ID 3934] Rudman, Mara / Kerrick, Donald Iridium Information Book [Binder] [1] [OA/ID 4160] Iridium Information Book [Binder] [2] [OA/ID 4160] Iridium Information Book [Binder] [3] [OA/ID 4160] Iridium Information Book [Binder] [4] [OA/ID 4160] Box 8 Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email] OPD [OA/ID 250000] [Iridium] [02/20/1998 – 10/13/1998] [10/20/1998 – 11/03/1998] [11/06/1998 – 02/15/1999] [02/18/1999 – 04/30/1999] [04/30/1999 – 06/22/1999] [06/28/1999 – 11/15/1999] [11/16/1999 – 02/03/2000] [02/10/2000 – 03/23/2000] Box 9 [04/20/2000 – 07/12/2000] [07/19/2000 – 08/21/2000] [08/22/2000 – 08/25/2000] [08/26/2000 – 08/29/2000] [08/29/2000] [08/29/2000 – 09/03/2000] [09/03/2000 – 09/05/2000] [09/05/2000 – 09/15/2000] [10/02/2000 – 10/26/2000] [10/26/2000 – 11/07/2000] Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email] (continued) Box 10 [11/08/2000 – 11/18/2000] [11/19/2000 – 11/21/2000] [11/22/2000 – 12/04/2000] [12/05/2000 – 01/18/2001] WHO [OA/ID 500000] [Iridium] [02/26/1998 – 10/10/1998] [10/30/1998 – 02/02/1999] [02/05/1999 – 03/03/1999] [03/17/1999 – 05/10/1999] Box 11 [05/11/1999 – 06/03/1999] [06/08/1999 – 07/15/1999] [07/19/1999 – 07/29/1999] [07/29/1999 – 08/31/1999] [09/02/1999 – 03/09/2000] [03/17/2000 – 07/14/2000] [07/17/2000 – 08/24/2000] Box 12 [08/29/2000 – 09/05/2000] [09/06/2000 – 11/13/2000] [11/20/2000 – 01/18/2001] CEA [OA/ID 950000] [Iridium] [09/11/1998 – 07/15/1998] [08/03/1999 – 12/03/1999] [04/25/2000 – 07/14/2000] [08/26/2000 – 09/05/2000] [11/17/2000] [12/11/2000] Box 13 Default [OA/ID 1100000] [Iridium] [01/28/1998 – 05/08/1998] [05/12/1998 – 05/19/1998] [05/21/1998 – 06/08/1998] [06/09/1998 – 07/23/1998] [07/24/1998 – 08/12/1998] [08/13/1998 – 08/31/1998] [08/31/1998 – 09/14/1998] Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email] (continued) [09/15/1998 – 09/28/1998] [09/28/1998 – 10/28/1998] Box 14 [10/16/1998 – 11/06/1998] [11/06/1998 – 11/18/1998] [11/18/1998 – 12/14/1998] [12/16/1998 – 01/09/1999] [01/11/1999 – 01/22/1999] [01/22/1999 – 02/08/1999] [02/10/1999 – 03/15/1999] [03/18/1999 – 04/08/1999] [04/11/1999 – 04/28/1999] Box 15 [04/28/1999 – 05/14/1999] [05/17/1999 – 05/24/1999] [05/24/1999 – 06/02/1999] [06/03/1999 – 06/23/1999] [06/24/1999 – 07/07/1999] [07/08/1999 – 07/16/1999] [07/19/1999 – 08/04/1999] [08/05/1999 – 08/12/1999] [08/12/1999 – 08/19/1999] Box 16 [08/20/1999 – 08/27/1999] [08/28/1999 – 09/02/1999] [09/06/1999 – 09/22/1999] [09/27/1999 – 10/11/1999] [10/12/1999 – 10/28/1999] [10/28/1999 – 11/17/1999] [11/18/1999 – 12/05/1999] [12/06/1999 – 01/03/2000] Box 17 [01/10/2000 – 01/28/2000] [01/31/2000 – 03/03/2000] [03/06/2000 – 03/15/2000] [03/15/2000 – 03/20/2000] [03/20/2000 – 03/26/2000] [03/28/2000 – 03/31/2000] [10/04/2000 – 10/31/2000] [10/31/2000 – 11/08/2000] Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email] (continued) Box 18 [11/15/2000 – 11/19/2000] [11/20/2000 – 12/07/2000] [12/07/2000 – 12/12/2000] [12/12/2000 – 12/20/2000] [12/27/2000 – 01/17/2001] Box 19 NSC [OA/ID 1100000] [Iridium and Satellites] [01/31/1996-08/17/1998] [10/19/1998-01/25/1999] [03/22/1999-09/30/1999] [10/19/1999-10/22/1999] [11/02/1999-03/22/2000] [03/29/2000-04/21/2000] [04/27/2000-07/31/2000] [07/31/2000-08/16/2000] [08/21/2000-11/03/2000] [11/06/2000-11/30/2000] Box 20 Clinton Presidential Records: Tape Restoration Project [Email] OPD [OA/ID 250000] [Iridium] [09/11/1998 – 01/27/1999] WHO [OA/ID 500000] [Iridium] [03/11/1998 – 09/09/1998] Default [OA/ID 1100000] [Iridium] [01/20/1998 – 05/08/1998] [05/18/1998 – 07/23/1998] [07/24/1998 – 09/23/1998] [11/25/1998 – 11/16/1998] [01/27/1999 – 04/23/1999] Box 21 Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Emails, and Records Management System NSC Cables Jan 1994-Dec 1995 [OA/ID 505000] [Iridium and Satellites] [01/16/1993-07/02/1993] [08/05/1993-09/24/1994] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Emails, and Records Management System (continued) [09/27/1994-12/09/1994] Jan 1995-Dec 1996 [OA/ID 510000] [Iridium and Satellites] [01/09/1995-10/24/1995] [11/08/1995-04/18/1996] [05/22/1996-09/03/1996] [10/02/1996-12/20/1996] Jan 1997-Dec 1998 [OA/ID 520000] [Iridium and Satellites] [01/02/1997-06/25/1997] [08/12/1997-12/08/1997] [12/11/1997-03/26/1998] [03/30/1998-05/05/1998] [05/06/1998-06/26/1998] Box 22 [06/29/1998-08/28/1998] [11/05/1998-12/17/1998] [12/19/1998-12/29/1998] Jan 1999-Dec 2000 [OA/ID 530000] [Iridium and Satellites] [01/08/1999-02/05/1999] [02/09/1999-03/22/1999] [03/23/1999-04/27/1999] [05/04/1999-11/05/1999] [11/23/1999-03/27/2000] [03/31/2000-05/23/2000] [06/09/2000-12/26/2000] Jan 2001 [Iridium and Satellites] [01/09/2001] [OA/ID 540000] NSC Emails A1-Record (Jan 93-Dept 94) [OA/ID 570000] [Iridium and Satellites] [03/24/1993-12/08/1993] MSMail-Record (Sept 94-Sept 97) [OA/ID 590000] [Iridium and Satellites] [11/14/1995-06/25/1996] Exchange-Record (Sept 97-Jan 01) [OA/ID 620000] [Iridium and Satellites] [12/07/1997-07/16/1998] [07/17/1998] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Emails, and Records Management System (continued) Box 23 [07/28/1998-12/11/1998] [03/03/1999-05/06/1999] [05/10/1999-03/24/2000] [04/03/2000-10/03/2000] [10/03/2000-10/11/2000] [11/03/2000-11/13/2000] [11/16/2000-12/22/2000] Exchange-Non-Record (Mar 97-Jan 01) [OA/ID 630000] [Iridium and Satellites] [02/27/1998] [06/04/1998-07/21/1998] [07/27/1998-11/18/1999] [05/10/2000-12/24/2000] Box 24 Records Management System [Iridium and Satellites] 9303257 [OA/ID 148] 9304893 [OA/ID 152] 9402337 [OA/ID 189] 9803633 [OA/ID 2037] 9803715 [OA/ID 2038] 9900682 [OA/ID 2709] 9903489 [OA/ID 2728] 0004849 [OA/ID 4100] 0007200 [OA/ID 4113]